Cream of Mushroom Soup with Marsala

Soup was the perfect answer for dinner last night. You see the weather has turned cold again and the powers that be were calling for snow last night at higher elevations. Course that's about where the great white hunter and his side kick are heading ...wouldn't you know it! 

The big guy calls this bowl of comfort "mancatcher soup", because it was the first thing I ever cooked for him and believe me, it sealed the deal. He was officially hooked after he ate his first bowl and it's been a favorite around here ever since. Light, rich and full of mushrooms in a creamy buttery, boozy broth, it waited patiently on the burner last night while the big guy packed the Jeep for his big hunting trip. A bowl of this along with a sandwich or some crackers and cheese is a sure fire way to warm the cockles of your heart. I guarantee it - although the fact that it's topped with a nip of Marsala doesn't hurt a bit. By the way, you can also use brandy or sherry if you'd rather and the second hunk of butter is purely optional, although it does make the soup incredibly silky on the tongue. Download Cream of Mushroom Soup with Marsala

My man is some excited to be leaving today on his hunting trip, though personally I fail to see the pleasure of camping out in the desert for days on end, but then again my idea of a vacation is a minimum 4 star hotel. As for me, what am I going to do with all this spare time on my hands?

Well one thing, over the next few days I'll be working on finding a home for the 75 plus Meyer lemons I harvested yesterday from our tree, never mind the tangelos and grapefruit. I've got lemons sliced and macerating in sugar for 4 Shaker Lemon Pies, and I'll be doing 4 more today. I'll be whipping up some curd and more lemon marmalade too, baking lemon bars, lemon bread, lemon cookies and making a mean lemon pudding. I can freeze some juice for tea and maybe even some whole lemons too. I can make some sorbet, ice cream, more limoncello and lemonade too. But before all of that I'm thinking I'd better go buy another freezer for the garage, and at least another 100 pound bag of sugar, oh and I'll need some more jars - boy, this lemon tree's turning out to be a real pain in the butt isn't it? On second thoughts maybe I'll just...now where did I put that darn book?

Comments

[Sophia]

When life gives you lemons.....well, make whatever you can!

Soup looks divine and you know how I love your soups. I passed along the broccoli cheese recipe to my boss the other day and he loved it!

[June]

Sophia - no higher compliment than when you pass a recipe along. I'm missin' you!

[Mags]

I was going to make the "when life gives you lemons" comment but Sophia beat me to it!

I sure wish I was close by because I'd take as many of those lemons as you'd care to pass over to me girl.

That soup looks divine. I absolutely love mushroom soup!

[June]

Mags - I'd give you a bunch of 'em, but we'd have to share a couple of lemon margaritas too - notice I kinda' left those off the list on purpose.

[Lea]

OK - I just "happened" to buy a bottle of marsala for cooking the other day - a Jbug inspiration actually - and now I will go ahead and make this soup this week when I go fetch some more shrooms... The hubs LOVES soups - being the Colombian that he is. And he is fond of shrooms, too! Thanks, my friend!! Looks fabulous - like you!!! Did you preserve any of those lemons like the Morrocans do?

[June]

Lea - tickles me that you bought some Marsala. I love the stuff. As for preserving lemons - are you sure you're not a peeping Thomasina? I've some brewing on the counter as we speak. Will take pic soon.

[Lea]

Ummmmm - June - I was just reviewing the recipe - and when is butter EVER optional??????????

[June]

Lea - it's so darn packed with calories, when you're trying to drop a ton it's a good thing to leave out of a recipe so you could certainly eliminate the second lump of butter from this one, but darn - it do make a difference!

[Lea]

OK - it finally happened - I made the mushroom soup this evening!!! I have to admit - I did not follow the recipe to a T - I never do. The changes I made are: I used a shallot because it was on the counter and pretty. I cooked the flour down a bit with the shallot, garlic and mushrooms before I added the chicken broth. I did not add milk. I put in about 1/3 cup cream at the end because I had it. And I added a garnish in our bowls of about 1/2 a green onion sliced fine - a typical garnish for both me and William (a Cajun and a Colombian thing)... WE LOVED IT!!!!! The flavor - especially from the Marsala - was to die for!!! Camille Ana does not like mushrooms, so she just had the broth with rice in it and she liked it, too!! William wants me to do it again!!!! Oh - and I do, too!!!! A real winner!!!! I can see why the big guy stayed around!!!!!

[Lea]

Darn - I forgot about that second lump of butter.... heck - we sure didn't need it!!! It was great without it - you were right - it was optional!!!! Probably the cream at the end took care of that issue....

[June]

Lea - I'm tickled pink that you made one of my recipes, and even more that you "jigged" it and made it your own. That's what creativity in the kitchen's all about. Good for you making a roux and as for the cream - doesn't it make everything better? I couldn't be happier. You go girl!